Summer Trips That Don't Break the Bank
By julianne, June 1, 2010, Family & Kids
While growing up, my summer vacations have consisted of riding across the country in a van with my family. I’ve passed so many states and seen a lot of great attractions while passing through the western and midwest United States. With a family of six, riding an airplane to our vacation destinations was out of the question. It would’ve been way too expensive for round-trip tickets. My parents were always trying to cut costs without cutting the fun when it comes to family vacations. Here are 10 tips on how you can save money on your summer vacation:
1. To help you save money at the pump, hotels from Maine to California are offering gas cards up to $100. Be sure to ask your hotel if they have any offers.
2. Keep your car in top shape. Make sure it’s maintained to avoid any trouble on the road and keep your tires inflated.
3. Pack the car as light as possible – the more weight it carries, the more fuel it will burn, the more money you’ll have to pay for gas.
4. Visit relatives in other states. Instead of paying for a hotel room, save money by staying with them and you’ll get to know each other better.
5. When renting hotel rooms, rent a studio (a room with a kitchen), so you can buy basic groceries and cook them in the room or heat up the previous night’s leftovers.
6. Hotels have a lot of coupons for nearby amusement parks or tourist destinations. Look for those before a day of sight-seeing.
7. Hampton Inn is currently offering 20% off their best available rate when you stay at any of their participating hotels between May 28 – September 26.
8. Go on vacations when it’s out of season. Hotels and other expenses will be low when the crowd size is not as big as in the middle of summer. It may be harder to with kids since they can only travel when school’s out. Try checking prices at the beginning and end of summer when school is ending and beginning.
9. Compare hotel and flight information using travel websites. These websites helps you find the best airline tickets and hotel reservation information with the least amount of hassle.
10. Fly stand-by. This maybe tough to do, especially during peak travel times, but waiting waiting for seats to open up on an unfilled plane minutes before take-off can allow you to fly at a discount price. This requires flexibility and the improvisation because you’re not guaranteed when you’ll get to your travel destination.
For more information visit MoneySmartLife , US News and World Report, and ABC News Travel
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